DANBURY -- Local police departments have remained vigilant about enforcing the state's distracted driving laws well after a two-week heightened enforcement action this summer that netted hundreds of area drivers who were talking or texting on their cellphones.

The crackdown on distracted drivers in June, which was paid for with a $275,000 federal grant and involved several area police departments, resulted in nearly 1,000 infractions for people who were talking on their cellphones while driving, according to the state Department of Transportation, which spearheaded the program.

But most agree that more has to be done. Few drivers today can stop at a red light and not see someone next to them in traffic talking on a phone.

Joseph Cristalli, safety programs coordinator for the DOT, said three additional weeklong enforcement periods will be held in the area through next summer to heighten awareness about the law.

He added that the Danbury area was selected for the program because of its already strong enforcement action.

In the past two years alone, he said, Ridgefield police officers have issued more than 1,800 infractions for distracted drivers, while Newtown officers handed out more than 1,200 tickets for the offense.

"We really encourage our officers to make it a priority," said Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe.

While some have argued the laws that ban talking or texting with a cellphone are difficult to enforce, Kehoe said officers just have to be a little creative to get the job done.

"If someone doesn't have their hands on the wheel, it's pretty obvious," he added.

Sgt. Rory DeRocco, who heads Danbury Police Department's five-person traffic division, said they've often used motorcycles or sport utility vehicles while enforcing distracted driving laws so they can see inside the compartment of the vehicle next to them.

He said they also routinely send out officers in pairs, one to serve as the spotter and the other to stop the motorist who's talking or texting.

"We definitely write a significant number of infractions for distracting driving," he said.

"We've also had a number of fatal accidents or accidents with serious injuries where distracted driving was a factor that we've had to investigate. It can alter lives and devastate families."

To help provide funding to enforce the law, municipalities get to keep 25 percent of the fines issued for distracted driving violations.

DeRocco said the money goes directly into the city's general fund, not to the department, but Danbury officials have been good at making sure police have the right equipment for the job.

Cristalli said as part of an ongoing effort to call attention to the dangers of distracted driving, the department's Save A Life program will be presented in several schools in the state in the coming year, including Danbury High School.

While they would love to bring the program to more schools, he said, "The funding isn't always there."

That's where Bob Greene and the Survive the Drive foundation he started comes in. A former high school teacher, Greene formed the organization after seeing too many students die in motor vehicle accidents.

The foundation gives presentations on the dangers of distracted driving at schools throughout the country.

Greene said people have become so accustomed to driving and using cell phones that they don't realize the dangers involved.

"If you throw a watermelon from a three-story building, it will flatten," he said. "The same thing will happen to a person's head going only 28 miles an hour. People don't realize just how violent a crash can be."

State Rep. David Scribner, who has spearheaded many of the state's distracted driving laws, said his greatest hope is that stronger enforcement will lead to more public awareness.

"The public needs to become more aware and rid themselves of this habit," he said.

"Distracting driving is becoming one of the major killers on our highways. We are taking this very seriously, and we will continue to look for ways to keep our roads safe."